Sin City Baby

“It’s a turtle,” she said. “We have a turtle in class.”

“That’s so awesome. But why’s the turtle red?”

“Because he should be red. Green’s boring. Red’s funner.”

“More fun,” I corrected. “Well, let’s go celebrate your first day of school.”

“With ice cream?” she asked.

“All the toppings.”

“Yay!”

I piled us both into the car, and Lily kept kicking the back of my seat from excitement. I tried to get her to stop as I put the car in reverse, but the more I asked, the harder she kicked. I checked all my mirrors before I started backing out the car, making sure no one was in my way.

But a strong kick to the middle of the seat startled me, forcing my foot down on the gas.

“Lily!”

I heard a deafening crunch as Lily began to whimper. I was shaking I whipped my head around. Lily seemed to be okay, but I had pl

owed into someone’s truck behind me.

Did they not see me pulling out?

I got out of my car and pulled Lily’s door open. She had tears streaming down her cheeks, and I leaned in to kiss them away. I wiped away her tears and checked her body, making sure there really was nothing wrong with her.

But not before I heard a rumbling voice behind me.

“Really?” he asked.

I stood up from my car and studied the man in front of me. I recognized him from the brief times I’d seen him outside of his place. It was my neighbor that the town couldn’t shut up about.

I watched his eyes study his truck. His hand ran lightly over the dent I’d created with my taillight. I saw his jaw clenching with anger, but he wasn’t turning his anger on me.

What was with this guy?

His eyes were filled with a familiar sense of emotion, a type of hurt mixed with anger I’d seen in my own eyes every time I looked in the mirror. His fingers drifted over his truck, almost like he was comforting it during its time of need.

The truck must’ve meant something to him, and it made me feel even more like crap for hitting it.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

Even if he could hear me, he didn’t acknowledge that he could.

“I’ll pay for it. Whatever it takes. If you want me to call someone, I know a guy downtown who can come and—”

“No thanks. It’s fine,” the man said.

He raised up from his truck, and I got to take in just how tall he was. He was massive. And stacked. Strong underneath his clothing and stern behind his gaze. I felt like I was shrinking in front of him, reduced to nothing but the size of an ant as he gazed down at me.

He was an incredibly handsome guy with thick shoulders and a well-trimmed beard. His dark hair was cut casually, and his eyes were a deep, probing blue. He had an air of confidence about him that I found both intriguing and also a little intimidating.

“I’m sorry,” I said again. “My daughter was kicking the back of my seat and I thought I checked properly before I pulled out.”

“Came out quick,” he said.

“I’m … sorry.”